Hummer modified in China at the 2008 Auto China

A Hummer modified in China at the 2008 Auto China show in Beijing

Some Americans may not be comfortable with the idea, but China is a force to be reckoned with. And now it might even save about 3,000 American jobs.

General Motors has a tentative agreement with Sichuan Tengzhong Heavy Industrial Machinery Co. of China, which plans to purchase Hummer. If the deal goes through, the new owner of Hummer would contract GM to continue building the Hummer H3 and H3T at their Shreveport, La., plant at least through 2010.

That move, along with saving dealership jobs, would save thousands of manufacturing jobs. It’s hard to find fault in a sale that benefits newly bankrupt GM and saves American jobs.

Even so, it’s hard to look past the irony of an iconic American military-vehicle-turned-civilian-SUV being owned by a Chinese company. We might as well sell the New York Yankees and our patent on apple pie to the Chinese government, too.

What I’m having trouble understanding is how Hummer’s new owner intends to make money. Hummer’s sales dropped nearly 70% in the first four months of this year, and I’m not sure Chinese ownership is a change that will lend itself to sales improvements in this country.

Maybe that’s the point, though. GM has had success with Buick in China, and maybe Sichuan Tengzhong plans to do the same with Hummer. If that’s the case, it’s probably only a matter of time before Hummers will be shipped with the words “Made in China” engraved into the sheet metal.

I guess I should just quit complaining. An Indian company owns Jaguar, and now a Chinese company will likely own Hummer. Maybe it’s time for a U.S. company to buy Kia and complete the circle in this bizzaro new world.

2008 Hummer H3 Luxury

2008 Hummer H3 Luxury. Hummer Wallpaper, Hummer Posters, Hummer Picture. custom car

2010 Hummer

2010 Hummer H4

2010 Hummer Interior

2010 Hummer H4

2010 Hummer H4

CFC Proves There's No Limit to Bad Taste with Chromed-Out Hummer H2

Leave it to a German tuner to take something already gaudy by nature and make it even more garish and ugly. "Take your Hammer and drive it sexy", says CFC in the press release on the pimped-out Hummer H2 (with a "u" and not an "a"). Too bad it doesn't say 'where', but let's not make this post more inappropriate than it already is. After a lengthy visit at their warehouse, CFC's tuning team went ahead and stuffed the Hummer H2 like a Thanksgiving turkey. Starting from the outside, the 'chrome' vinyl wrap is complemented by tinted windows, a carbon wrap for the bonnet and a set of uber-discreet 'CFC' stickers.

The H2 rides on massive 28-inch TunerShop light-alloy rims shod in jumbo-sized 325/35 R28 pneumatic tires by Kumho. Other exterior 'upgrades' include the four tail pipes, additional lights, chromed side guards and let's not forget, the Lambo-Style-Doors.

CFC's decorators really outdid themselves with the H2's interior. Applying lessons learned from the cheesiest of limo-makers, the SUV's cabin has been fitted with no more than... 17 LCD screens plus an HD TV, (on the ceiling, sunscreen, central console between the front seats, trunk and doors), a DVD-player, a 1.360-Watt RMS music system, a mini bar and probably some other thing we forgot to mention.

Style-wise, the seats have been upholstered in black leather with yellow stitches while there's also a new rear sofa and yellow decorative trim on the dash.

Finally, CFC also tampered around with the Hummer H2's engine which now puts out a total of 480HP. For better or for worse, the German tuner did not release details on pricing.